It’s very likely a prospect that every adult has mulled over at some point in their lives.
Maybe it’s time to get that degree. Perhaps it’s time to finish my education. A return to the classroom might be necessary for a career change.
Making the decision to return to school after many years can be a daunting endeavor. There are some important questions to ask before ever making the transition to student once more.
- What do you really want this degree for?
- How will this degree help you in your profession or with your career goals?
- How will you fit the college workload into your other responsibilities, such as work and family?
- What type of program and what level of coursework should I take to complete my personal goals?
 “Before making such an important commitment, people need to ask themselves ‘Why do I need this degree?’” said
Dr. Lolly Tai, Senior Associate Dean at Temple University Ambler. “Often an individual will think they need a degree in the area they are presently working when that is not necessarily the case. There are so many opportunities available — they really need to weigh their options carefully.”
Recently, Tai said, an adult student had made the determination to return to school to obtain a business degree — a seemingly natural choice for a businessman. Exploring this option closely with advisors at the Ambler campus, however, it became evident that the degree would not further his career objectives. With careful consideration, the student determined the Community and Regional Planning degree program was a more sensible fit.
“It is a good idea for adult students to do their homework. The Ambler Campus offers valuable information on its Web site. Interested prospective students can also visit campus for a tour and make an appointment to talk with an advisor, or visit during our Open House,” Tai said. “Some adults may just want to take a few courses in their spare time or just to ‘get their feet wet’ after a long time away from the classroom. If they have made the decision to pursue a degree here on campus, our Admissions staff is certainly available to help.”
Annual open houses and information sessions for adult students provide adults with the opportunity to learn about day and evening degree programs and the enrollment process. Prospective adult students interested in exploring the possibilities at Ambler may also schedule 30-minute Education Planning Sessions, where they will meet with an Admissions representative and academic advisor. To register for a planning session, call Cory Thomas at 267-468-8102.
Hesitant to completely commit to a 2-year or 4-year undergraduate or graduate degree program?
Individuals at Ambler have the opportunity to sample the wares as non-matriculated students — students who have not registered for a specific degree program. This gives students the opportunity to determine which course of study is the best fit for them. Non-matriculated students also enjoy all of the amenities that Temple University Ambler has to offer, such as a 96,000 book library with access to Temple’s entire library resources — more than two million books; state-of-the-art computer labs/classrooms; athletic and dining facilities right on campus, and a new, state-of-the-art $18 million Learning Center.
An advisor has also been made specifically available for non-matriculated students.
“Typically, a student will set up a 30 minute appointment to determine what courses they are interested in and if they meet the requirements. Adult students may also register beforehand via e-mail; an advisor will make sure they have chosen the appropriate courses so that they don’t end up in a course that they don’t need or that they can’t take — for someone living far from campus, this is a particular benefit,” Tai said.
For adults interested in returning to school to start or complete a degree, the Ambler campus provides a full range of possibilities — numerous bachelor’s degree programs may be completed at the Ambler campus and students can begin courses for all of the University’s more than 100 majors. The Temple University Fort Washington Graduate and Professional Center also offers 7 graduate programs in addition to hundreds of non-credit programs every semester, which include certificate programs in everything from interior design and home gardening to computers and wedding planning.
“The location of the campus is readily accessible, the price is competitive, and the course selection and variety of times courses are offered made it very convenient for me,” said Tom Dooley, an Ambler campus alum with a degree in Horticulture, who worked full-time while completing his degree. “The teachers take into account the needs of adult students. You’ll also find a wide range of ages in the classroom, from students just out of high school to 50 and 60 year olds. I like that diversity — you really get to learn from that wide range of experiences.”
Student Services, Advising, and Admissions at Ambler provide the “one-on-one contact that adult students are seeking when they decide to return to college,” according to Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell, Assistant Dean for Student Life.
“When returning to college, adults are often hesitant and unsure. They need that personal touch; they need to know a name and an office to ease the transition,” she said. “When someone hasn’t been in school for years there are going to be fears to overcome — ‘How can I compete in the classroom with all of these younger people?’ Traditionally, adult students do better than they ever could have imagined and their grades soar.”
Home to the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, the Department of Community and Regional Planning, and the Center for Sustainable Communities at Temple University Ambler the campus, which has been designated an arboretum, provides the perfect backdrop for students to get involved in research that directly impacts area communities.
Each year, students in the Landscape Architecture and Horticulture programs take designs from initial conception to completion to create award-winning entries for the Philadelphia Flower Show that educate visitors about a variety of environmental concepts that they can implement right in their own backyard.
The Center for Sustainable Communities, among many projects, recently completed a comprehensive study of the Pennypack Creek Watershed to help alleviate the threat of flooding in 12 municipalities. Students in the Community and Regional Planning program have helped map out the sustainable future of municipalities such as Milford Township, Bucks County, and Fort Washington in Montgomery County.
“The Center is a regional resource for local governments, community organizations, and developers,” said Dr. Jeffrey Featherstone, Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities. “Our primary goal is to provide objective information and services to improve decision-making relative to land use and water resources planning and management.”
Outside of the classroom, Ambler, whose student population is divided almost evenly between tradition-aged and adult students, also provides ample opportunities for community involvement and networking.
“Our adult students have the same opportunities to get involved with any student organization on campus and, historically, they have done very well when they do get involved — age is in no way prohibitive. Some of the best organizations have been run by adult students,” said Lewis-Campbell. “An organization is also specifically available for adult students, the Non-Traditional Student Union — also known as Night O.W.L.S. (Organizing, Work, Life, and School). The organization provides a support mechanism for their peers.”
Traditionally, adult students have focused their student involvement on the professional and academic organizations, such as the American Marketing Association, the Communications Society, and Society for Exceptional Educators, Lewis-Campbell said. Adult students have also made significant contributions to the student newspaper, radio station, and literary magazine.
“The professional and academic organizations in particular provide a greater connection to their major in addition to exposing them further to the field and providing networking opportunities in the industry,” she said. “Our traditional-aged and adult students really feed off of one another — they make excellent study partners because they each bring something to the table. A student who is just out of high school can help ‘break it down’ for someone who hasn’t had math or science in 10 or 20 years. Our adult students are very committed and reliable and make excellent organization members — it’s a reciprocal relationship.”
Every year students on campus also get involved in dozens of community service and charity projects for the Special Olympics, March of Dimes WalkAmerica, Philabundance, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, and many others. Every April, students also have the opportunity to take part in EarthFest on campus, an outdoor educational celebration of Earth Day that brings thousands of elementary, middle school, and high school students on campus to learn about environmental concepts in interactive and fun ways.
“It’s a very personalized environment. Every student gets out of it what they put into it,” Lewis-Campbell said. “Our adult students most often turn out to be excellent students who do very well, both inside and outside of the classroom.”
To contact the Ambler campus Admissions staff or schedule a tour of campus, contact Cory Thomas at 267-468-8102 or coryt@temple.edu.
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